Publications

This article scrutinises precision strike technologies in modern warfare and sets forth the thesis of a new autocratic way of war that – in contrast to the “new Western way of war” – is not characterised by the use of precision strike technologies for restrained civilian targeting, but by the use of these technologies for precise and deliberate attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure. We explain this by the specific characteristics of autocratic political systems, such as the restriction of effective political participation and state control of the media, which shield autocratic leaders from the domestic political costs of civilian victimisation in war. Our analysis of the warfare conducted by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in Yemen shows that both autocracies did use precision strikes for systematic civilian victimisation. Comparing this to their warfare within the US-led coalition in Syria suggests that the presence of a democratic state leading the coalition has a constraining effect. Israeli bombing in Gaza appears to be a counterexample to the argument. However, we show that Israeli warfare – while reminding us that democracies kill many civilians in war, too – does not contradict our argument.

Read the full article here.